You might wonder how a cricketer can be so unlucky. But watch what keeps happening to Kusal Mendis, and the question starts to make sense. Just when he looks ready to get going, something strange comes in the way.
His recent experiences in the tri-series involving England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are enough to leave you laughing in disbelief—and feeling sorry for him at the same time. To understand why, look at these incidents one by one.
1. Run Out Without Facing a Single Ball
In Sri Lanka’s second match of the tournament against England, Mendis had only just arrived at the crease. He had not faced a delivery when Avishka Fernando played a shot back towards Gus Atkinson.
The England pacer got a touch on the ball, which then broke the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Mendis was outside his crease and could not get back in time.
He walked out to bat and returned without facing a single ball.
There was no opportunity to settle in or even judge the conditions. A slight touch from the bowler had ended his innings. Unfortunate, certainly—but surely the next match would bring something better?
2. Makes Contact, but the Ball Rolls Back Onto His Stumps
Against Pakistan, Mendis faced Arafat Minhas and attempted a back-foot shot.
He made contact with the ball, but an awkward deflection sent it rolling back towards the stumps. It clipped the off stump and dislodged a bail, leaving him bowled for 8 off 6 balls.
The slow movement of the ball made the dismissal even more frustrating. He had played the delivery, yet somehow it still found its way to the wicket behind him.
One match brought a dismissal without facing a ball. The next brought an unusual route back onto the stumps. Mendis could hardly have expected what almost happened in his following innings.
3. A Defensive Shot Breaks His Bat—and Nearly Ends His Innings
Against England on October 29, Mendis was on just 1 when he defended a delivery from Atkinson.
He was not trying to smash the ball out of the ground. It was a defensive stroke, but his bat snapped, separating the handle from the blade.
The detached blade headed towards the stumps. This time, however, his legs came in the way. The broken piece struck him and fell before it could hit the wicket.
Even defending the ball had almost produced another bizarre dismissal.
Had the broken blade struck the stumps and dislodged a bail during the stroke, he could have been out hit wicket. Instead, he survived and began to build his innings.
After the previous two exits, this escape felt like a small change in fortune. For once, the strange incident did not send him back to the dressing room.
4. Even His IPL Debut Ended Hit Wicket
Unusual dismissals are not new to Mendis. His IPL debut also ended in a manner he would rather forget.
Playing for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 Eliminator, he made a quick 20 off 10 balls before being dismissed hit wicket off Mitchell Santner.
He had made a promising start in an important knockout match, only to disturb his own wicket and lose the chance to turn it into a bigger innings.
Mendis has also suffered a hit-wicket dismissal in international cricket. Against Australia in a T20I in 2022, a short ball from Jhye Richardson struck him before he disturbed his stumps.
That history explains why the broken bat against England felt so familiar. Another unusual exit appeared possible, but this time his body stopped the blade from reaching the wicket. Perhaps Mendis can finally take that escape as a sign that his luck is beginning to turn.
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